Weather, Amman

M

You are here

More North Korean bravado and provocation

Jul 08,2017 - Last updated at Jul 08,2017

Russia and China balked at the US attempt to have the UN Security Council condemn the latest missile test by North Korea, saying they cannot be sure that the tested rocket was an intercontinental ballistic missile, after all, as the US and its allies contend.

“The parametric flight data of the ballistic target corresponds to the tactical and technical parameters of a medium-range ballistic missile. Basing on this assessment, Russia suggested that the United States, as the penholders of the draft press statement, make appropriate amendments to it,” Russia’s UN mission was quoted as saying.

A medium-range ballistic missile is capable of flying 3,000 to 5,500 kilometres.

The North Korean missile was allegedly equipped with a booster estimated to increase its range to the ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) class, which flies beyond 5,500 kilometres and would put Alaska within range.

Moscow and Beijing prefer giving diplomacy a chance; and even though US President Donald Trump said he was weighing some “pretty severe things” in response, US Secretary of Defence James Mattis said the US’ “self restraint” will prevent the two countries from getting “closer to war” and that “diplomacy has not failed”.

That is a sensible attitude, unlike that of US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, who told the security council meeting that all options, including military, were on the table for the US if countries do not act to isolate Kim Jong-un’s regime.

She had convened the US Security Council in an emergency meeting a few days ago and said that her government wanted the council to adopt punitive measures against the North Korean regime.

“The international community can cut off the major sources of hard currency to the North Korean regime. We can restrict the flow of oil to their military and their weapons programmes. We can increase air and maritime restrictions. We can hold senior regime officials accountable,” Haley said, also singling out China, on whose shoulders “much of the burden of enforcing UN sanctions rests”.

China’s UN Ambassador Liu Jieyi told the Security Council meeting that the missile launch was a “flagrant violation” of UN resolutions and “unacceptable”, but called “on all the parties concerned to exercise restraint, avoid provocative actions and belligerent rhetoric, demonstrate the will for unconditional dialogue and work actively together to defuse the tension”.

In the absence of an international consensus on what to do vis-a-vis North Korea, the US might seek to take unilateral action and sanction more Chinese companies that do business with North Korea, especially banks, US officials say.

However, and reassuringly, North Korea’s recklessness does not seem to lead to an armed conflict for the time being.

It could be that the North Korean leader wanted to test Trump’s resolve on the eve of the G-20 summit in Hamburg. The latter actually said he was not drawing red lines, a sound answer from an unpredictable president.

The leaders of the Group of 20 nations meeting in Germany this week are bound to discuss steps to rein in North Korea’s weapons programme, which it seems bent on pursuing in defiance of Security Council sanctions.

Erratic, impulsive leaders could easily bring the world to the brink of war. Cool heads need to prevail even in the face of North Korea’s brazen taunts.

Comments

DR SAMUEL IHEMDI (not verified)

Sun, 07/09/2017 - 01:46

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WILL BE NO SOLUTION TO THIS FOR MANY REASONS. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:
1) WHAT HAPPENED TO SADAM, THE STRONG MAN OF LYBIA AND THE LIST GOES ON
2) IT IS TOO LATE NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY AND ALREADY HAVE THEIR TOYS
3) THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS NOT UNITED TO TALK AND FOLLOW PEACEFUL RESOSOLUTION AND EVEN IF THEY HAVE, THERE IS NO TRUST TO DO SO.
4) THE USE OF FORCE IS OUT OF QUESTION.
SO, WHAT IS NEXT? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALBUNDY (not verified)

Sun, 07/09/2017 - 01:11

NUKE !!!

Add new comment

Your name

Comment *

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

The Jordan Times

The Jordan Times is an independent English-language daily published by the Jordan Press Foundationsince October 26, 1975. The Jordan Press Foundation is a shareholding company listed on the Amman Stock Exchange.